Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-22

| kAS Ginned into my weary
tk ears by day-into my
M @4 dreams by night 1
~ GW~L could not escape
~o them can not es-
g; e; &C., ; e" IT, Z e ;A 81
! manufacturing districts at morn, at noon, at
night cause nee to start with alarm. NAV
be late, l can not rid myself Of the notion
that they are signaling me, that the overseer
VIII not bring pair Of ugly, vicious. black
brows together if l am . few seconds
| behind tine.
was often late by very few seconds. II
he had only locked my pitiful earnings
| should not SO much have cared, but he
| scolded IN big, brawling accents and held
me up as an example OF shifllessness TO the
| vulgar factory crowd. ! had to bear it, for
had to live, and Is my lateness was always
caused by my necessary attention TO the
twHs. knew that. though men chided me,
was doing right il the sight Of the angels,
and that comfort,d me, and tried TO not
hear the loud voices OF bold faced young
women as they jeered and laughed in coarse
sympathy with the overseer; enjoying my
discontinue and pandering to the powers
that be al one and the same time.
was poor enough those days: but hours
blacSer than these stole like dread spect-
ers from the charnel house of Time.
One day was discharged. Twas late for
the tenth tine-'.for the tenth and last
time the overseer said. as he pushed the
little wage due into my nerveless hand.
For the tenth and last time, girl. I've
been tolerant Of your fine lady ways long
eaough-you are discharged-march!'
The twins comforted me that night as best
they could. After long fatiguing walk in
vain search for work it was sweet at twi-
light to sit alone with my treasures, and
have their dear arms fold about my neck.
l was so young, too: IL seemed as II had
actually been child with them when our
widowed mother lived; but, when we saw
the cold earth take her to its bosom, l aged
with my great grief and now drear life
time of experience and sorrow lay between
me and the brown-eyed children. who, at
nine years Of age, comprehended but vague
II their sisters grief and care.
Factory work was repulsive to me. who
loved quiet and clean linens and dainty sur
roundings: but even factory work the most
cistasteful was impossible to get. found:
and two days tramping brought NE only an
empty pocket. empty larder and empty pros
poets
And then came Christmas Eve-Christ-
mas Eve, when ali should be JOY and glad
ness and radia nee and plenty! looked into
the box 10 had fashioned into what he
called a pantry; there was half Of loaf
there. some crackers and bit OF cheese.
We were not hungry now, but breakfast
would clear the box Of crust and crumbs.
4
three days past had come from the united
earnings of Josie and 10, who sold papers
while traversed the long, cold, city streets.
And Christmas was to dawn upon Us as il
ever dawns upon the poor-in its own
bright, bitter mockery Of all gladness,
Santa Claus finds it impossible to tread the
labyrynthian alleys Of Poverty Row, and a
great lump rose in my throat at the sight Of
two poor, little faded stockings hung near
the straw pile that served US for bed in
common. Oh. the sweet, simple faith Of
childhood! Tears came to vail my sight,
and each great, bitter drop was like bub-
bic that reflects more beauteous lints than
ever were in the earth or sky. Whence
come they! In these salt tears found the
picture of my childhood's home, where
mother lived among US and trouble was I'M
born. saw her sweet face close to mine;
/ saw her hands reach out to me, and then
The dream-angel must have visited me,
for l awoke with start to find the last red
eInber only tiny spark upon the hearth.
Ny dream comforted me greatly. and with
a queer feeling Of something oddly resem-
bling content !. early as it was. slipped on
my worn shoes and lie: down my hair for
the night.
Such hair had then-so long. so lustrous,
with the CLINT Of the suns own sheen
amidst its heavy masses.
MAKE me doll. sister," Josie once had
said; land cover its head with bit of your
lovely hairr' Right willingly would have
sacrificed every tress Of it ia great
thought seized me: cried ont like enc daft.
and bound up the heavy masses with eager,
trembling hands.
..Sleep. little darling" cried in ecstatic
whisper, '.sleep and dream Of glorious
Christmas-tide; for it shall come to you by
the power of living gold!'
Out into the gloom Of cold. deserted streets
beyond them into the glare Of shop-it
avenues-jostled by servants Of Santa Claus
excited, dazed, happy in the thought Of my
sacrifice hurried upon my way.
came, at last, to a halt before window
behind whose one great crystal pane wax
en- image Of a fair impossible beauty turned